Mountain Miles, Mini Skiers and Mischief

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The only thing I love more than challenging myself is seeing my kids reach a potential they didn’t know they were capable of. I love seeing their eyes light up when they try something that seemed crazy. That’s what skiing has been for them.

This is our third year going to Copper Mountain and each year’s more fun than the last!

This is the trip we take with Scott’s family and it seems to get better every year! It’s so much fun to get away from the city and just be surrounded by something so much bigger than yourself. The mountains are gorgeous and majestic and did I mention HIGH up there?!

For as much fun as skiing is, I have to be honest and say it’s a LOT of work. Packing for a beach vacation is way easier. With skiing, we take a whole separate bag for boots, snow pants, ski jackets, and all the other stuff you need to stay warm and dry! It doesn’t end there. Unlike the beach, when the kids want to go outside, it’s a 20 minute ordeal to get them suited up. That’s pretty typical but add the altitude and at times, I was literally gasping for air.

But, moving on from the gripefest..skiing is something E has really taken too. This is his third year skiing and we took him up the green slopes this year and he KILLED it! I can’t tell you how amazed I was to follow him down the slope and watch him attack it. I admit, he really doesn’t have any fear yet so that helps but as I’m just trying to stay up right, he’s flying down the hill at a speed I’ll never reach. And he did it daily! Stayed out longer than I did and some nights I had to drag him in the house kicking and screaming.

The coolest thing about his passion for skiing is that he really shares it with his dad. I like skiing. Do I love it? Nah. But I love being in the mountains and watching them bond over something as special as skiing. It melts my heart…even amidst the snow and cold.

MiniE is three so I wasn’t sure if this would be her year. She was a little less interested in learning to ski but she decided to give it a shot and I’m so glad she did! I have to admit (and Scott would probably agree) that because she’s my baby, I have a harder time letting her grow up. I always want to do things for her and be there to catch her when she falls. It’s hard to watch them grow up and I’m really struggling with it. But again, she blew away my expectations with what she was capable of. The first run down was exactly what you would expect from a three year old but when I thought she would give up, she went back for more! Amazed, and in awe, I watched her keep trying. She made great improvements and there’s a little part of me that had to come to terms with the fact that she too, will soon be independent and not needing my help everytime she turns around. Man, parenting can be so tough in the best ways sometimes!!

Ironman training didn’t stop just because I took a vacation. In fact, the thing I look forward to most about vacations is being able to workout when I WANT too not when I HAVE too. That means running in the late morning and afternoon. Biking wasn’t really an option up there, nor was swimming so I just tried to maintain my running endurance.

If you follow me on Instagram, these will look familiar. I only got in about three miles everyday but that was plenty for me. Between the cold and the altitude every mile burned worst than the last. I did increase my speed with each run, even getting some 8:xx min miles. They weren’t easy but I was SO glad to have kept some consistency in my training.

Now it’s time to get back to it at home. I have a new CycleOps Magnus in the box waiting for me to open it and a Cannondale Slice at the bike shop waiting for me to pick it up! It does suck a little that triathlon is one of those sports, you can’t just decide to do. You have to commit to it both physically and financially. But I’m excited about the new bike and can’t wait to see what a fully carbon frame really does to my output.

So, we’re working on getting back into the swing of things. It’s always hard transitioning back into the real world and after this vacation, that will definitely be the case. But it has me looking forward to our next family adventure! Guess it’s time to start planning!!

Shameless plug…my family and I were covered in Columbia gear from head to toe. Not because they gave anything to me, I bought it all but because I trust it. I trust it some much I became an affiliate for them so if you and your family need outdoor gear, check Columbia first! And maybe…just maybe click here to browse!